Domoic Acid as a Neurotoxin

Abstract

Domoic acid (DOM) is a naturally occurring excitatory amino acid with structural similarity, and similar but not identical pharmacological profile, to kainic acid. DOM is most commonly associated with toxic blooms of marine phytoplankton resulting in contamination of shellfish as well as other species. This brief chapter summarizes the known toxicological properties of DOM both in vitro and in vivo in a variety of model systems. The chapter also summarizes information on clinical cases of intoxication in both wildlife and humans and highlights the growing evidence that DOM is a potent neurodevelopmental toxin with relevance to both food safety issues and the etiology of neurological diseases.